Digital Lieracy and the Law:Remixing Elements, Lanksheare & Knobel-Digital Literacies: Concepts, Policies, and Practices (2008)

It seems to me that as we progress on to a digital world we encroach upon the creative frontiers that are open to us so long as no one else can surmise the earning potential of that vast space and tries to mitigate any further advancements.  We are being pigeon holed into well defined conceptualization of what the world should appeal to the senses.  The article itself exemplifies the great capacity the digital era has in store if people are given an opportunity to expand beyond the capitalized potential of this form of self-expression.  Technology today has expanded to almost every corner of the world.  There will soon be nowhere that all digital media won't be accessible.  Look at the Scam artist in Nigeria or the design cloning industry in China, if we move into the digital age with abandonment, will we soon find speed bumps and other obstruction to the access and manipulation of information in any form, both legal and illegal?  If, as is often the case, we become complacent in monitoring the impact of legislation (now and in the future) on creative licensing and the use of commercial materials as fodder for online social engagement, we will find ourselves to be like a puppet on a string.  We will have created the perfect medium for "Big Brother" to dictate how we live our lives.  What would be the impact if the Federal Government were to copyright all the materials it has published.  How would that improve or hinder freedom of speech?  We might be heading there as we digitally speak?  The Patriot Act has already led to the violation of free speech and to the privacy of ordinary American citizens.  There was a time when you can joke with someone about "he said she said issues" now the readers in specific areas of the country are relegated into free speech zones.  How long will it be before our access to the Internet becomes regulated.  They are already talking about taxing online sales regardless of where the brick and mortar facility is located.  The synthesis of teaching materials  to produce a desired affect may be hindered and at the same time manipulated should  the Internet be regulated and privatized.